I agree with PhotoginCollege. It is neither overexposed nor underexposed. Your photo's lighting is just right. If your subject was a perfume (for example), your lighting could even pass for a nice product shot. Well done!

How do you get the black background so black ... but still the reflection from the base?

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Here another shot that might show how it's done. And yes, I know I have some hot spots on the vase...workin on that. Went to Wallyword and got black felt, the heavy type, polyester..nothing with nylon in it, too reflective. There is a piece of smoked glass over the felt on the table with the background about 3ft behind the table so I can shoot a spot with color gels. That way I can change colors to match the piece.

I would say it depends on the jury. If the jury likes documentary photos that just show the object without any distractions, I think you are good to go.

In all other cases, the pictures are too flat. I would personally prefer to see some lighting accents and just an overall more dramatic lighting.

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These shots will be used for Art Show jurying, were 5images are displayed at a time. There's usually 600-700+ entries with only 250 spaces to fill so there's not much time for a jurier to look at them, so first impression is critical. Thay may only view each piece 1-2 mins so I'm trying to get the eye to focus on the piece and not too dramatic that it would take away from that.
Would love to get alittle more dramatic for shots for the artist display. May be you have a sample of what you call more dramatic so I can see were you're coming from.
Gregg

...the pictures are too flat. I would personally prefer to see some lighting accents and just an overall more dramatic lighting.

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Agreed.

captainkimo stated, "I agree with PhotoginCollege. It is neither overexposed nor underexposed. Your photo's lighting is just right." This refers to exposure rather than lighting (a lighting scheme). I agree that the exposure is just fine, but this lighting is doing little to communicate much about the shape and surface of the subject.

captainkimo stated, "I agree with PhotoginCollege. It is neither overexposed nor underexposed. Your photo's lighting is just right." This refers to exposure rather than lighting (a lighting scheme). I agree that the exposure is just fine, but this lighting is doing little to communicate much about the shape and surface of the subject.